Peter McArthur (politician)
Peter McArthur | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 September 1937 Brighton, Australia |
| Died | 2 February 2017 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, broadcaster |
| Years active | 1960–2017 |
| Known for | Victorian Legislative Assembly member for Ringwood, broadcaster at ABC and Channel 31, co-founder of 3ECB Radio Eastern 98.1 FM |
Peter Stewart McArthur (27 September 1937 – 2 February 2017) was an Australian figure known for his contributions to politics and broadcasting. His career included roles at the ABC as a broadcaster, as well as serving Channel 2 in capacities such as newsreader, weather presenter, and interviewer. On Radio 3LO, he hosted the weekend breakfast show and participated as a sports panelist. In 1991, he co-established 3ECB Radio Eastern 98.1 FM, where he continued to present and provide commentary on EFL sports until his passing.
McArthur was born in Brighton to Stewart Campbell McArthur, a woolclasser, and Phyllis Marguerite Darling. His education spanned Haileybury College and schools located in Upwey, Albury, and Camberwell. Beginning his radio career in 1960, he worked initially in Ballarat before spending two years in Hobart. He joined the ABC in 1964 as a newsreader for both television and radio outlets. On 21 November 1966, he married Margaret Ann Yeoman; the couple had two children. Between 1970 and 1976, McArthur was a member of the Croydon City Council, holding the position of mayor from 1974 to 1975. In 1976, he secured election to the Victorian Legislative Assembly representing the Ringwood seat for the Liberal Party. During his tenure, he chaired the Victorian Parliamentary Road Safety Committee when Victoria introduced its .05 blood alcohol limit legislation.
Following his defeat in the 1982 election, McArthur resumed his broadcasting work with the ABC until retiring in 2002. He served as president of Channel 31 Television in Melbourne from 2005 through 2010. Additionally, between 1979 and 1982, he led the Victorian Parliamentary All-Party Road Safety Committee.
In collaboration with Herb Lilburn and Gerald Smart, McArthur co-founded Radio Eastern (3ECB) 98.1 FM in 1991 after conducting trial broadcasts starting in 1974 over a span of sixteen years while advocating for a permanent license granted in 1990. He also took on administrative responsibilities at the station as Secretary/Treasurer and Program Convener.
Prior to the commencement of regular community television broadcasts in 1994, McArthur contributed to the formation of ERA TV (Eastern Regional Access Television Inc.), one of eight founding organizations behind Channel 31 (Melbourne Community Television Consortium). In 1995, he developed and produced "Eastern Newsbeat", a program that ran for more than a thousand episodes over twenty-two years on Channel 31.
Beyond these roles, McArthur held leadership positions at both 3WBC and Channel 31 Television (2005–2010), and was also recognized as a Scottish bagpiper.
His family maintained strong political involvement: his grandfather Peter Campbell McArthur and great-uncle John Neil McArthur represented Villiers and Heytesbury; his uncle Stewart McArthur served federally for Corangamite from 1984 to 2007; and his cousin Ted Baillieu is likewise prominent in politics.